Isaiah

Pronunciation: [ eyez-AY-uh ]

Boy Name #56 Most Popular Steady 3 Syllables

A prophet's name carrying the eternal promise of divine salvation

Hebrew English African American

Biblical Spiritual Strong Classic Traditional

Meaning & Origin

"the Lord saves"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: English

"salvation of God, the Lord saves"

Origin: Hebrew

Language: Hebrew

"Yahweh is salvation"

Origin: Biblical Hebrew

Language: English

The Story of Isaiah

Isaiah comes from the Hebrew Yeshayahu, meaning salvation of the Lord or God is salvation. Isaiah was one of the greatest Hebrew prophets, writing in the 8th century BCE during a period of Assyrian military expansion and national crisis. His book is the longest of the prophetic books, containing extraordinary poetry including the suffering servant songs which Christians interpret as messianic prophecy, the vision of the peaceable kingdom where lions lie down with lambs, and the comforting words that have consoled millions: those who hope in the Lord will soar on wings like eagles.

Isaiah has been in the US top 50 since the late 1990s, making it one of the most enduringly popular biblical names for boys. It is particularly beloved in African American communities and among Christian families seeking names with deep spiritual resonance and strong masculine energy.

The Book of Isaiah is the most quoted Old Testament book in the New Testament, making it central to both Jewish and Christian theology. Isaiah's vision of the peaceable kingdom has become a universal symbol of hope and utopia. His words soar on wings like eagles appear on everything from graduation speeches to Olympic ceremonies.

Fun Facts

The Book of Isaiah is so stylistically varied that scholars debate whether it was written by one prophet or two—the debate has lasted centuries
The phrase they shall beat their swords into plowshares comes from Isaiah 2:4 and is inscribed on a statue at United Nations headquarters in New York
Two different NBA players named Isaiah Thomas played simultaneously in the league, requiring the NBA to differentiate them in record books

Isaiah in Other Languages

Arabic اشعياء

French Isaie

Hebrew יְשַׁעְיָהוּ

Italian Isaia

Spanish Isaias

Portuguese Isaias

Famous People Named Isaiah

Isaiah Thomas

Athlete

1989

American NBA player and two-time All-Star known for extraordinary performances with the Boston Celtics

Isaiah Mustafa

Actor

1974

American actor and former NFL player, famous as the Old Spice Guy in viral commercials

Isaiah Washington

Actor

1963

American actor known for his roles in Grey's Anatomy and Scandal

Isaiah Berlin

Writer

1909

British-Russian philosopher and intellectual historian, known for The Hedgehog and the Fox and his concept of positive a...

British-Russian philosopher and intellectual historian, known for The Hedgehog and the Fox and his concept of positive and negative liberty

Prophet Isaiah

Religious

Hebrew prophet of the 8th century BCE whose writings form the Book of Isaiah, the most cited Old Testament text in the N...

Hebrew prophet of the 8th century BCE whose writings form the Book of Isaiah, the most cited Old Testament text in the New Testament

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 3
Popularity Rank: #56
Total SSA Count: 5,250
Cultural Origins: Hebrew English African American
Pronunciation: Moderate
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: Moderate

Alternative Spellings

Isaias #448 Isai #1069

Common Nicknames

Zay Ike Isa

Pairs Well With

Isaiah James Isaiah Michael Isaiah David Isaiah Thomas Isaiah Alexander Isaiah John Isaiah Emmanuel

Sibling Names

Elijah Josiah Miriam Hannah Ezekiel Naomi Ezra

Also a Girl Name

Isaiah is also used as a girl name, ranked #9258.

View Isaiah as a girl name →

Similar Names

Joseph Michael Moses Eli Elias Asa Joshua Elisha

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Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah

What does the name Isaiah mean?

"the Lord saves" (from Hebrew). "salvation of God, the Lord saves" (from Hebrew). "Yahweh is salvation" (from Biblical Hebrew). Isaiah comes from the Hebrew Yeshayahu, meaning salvation of the Lord or God is salvation. Isaiah was one of the greatest Hebrew prophets, writing in the 8th century BCE during a period of Assyrian military expansion and national crisis. His book is the longest of the prophetic books, containing extraordinary poetry including the suffering servant songs which Christians interpret as messianic prophecy, the vision of the peaceable kingdom where lions lie down with lambs, and the comforting words that have consoled millions: those who hope in the Lord will soar on wings like eagles.

What is the origin of the name Isaiah?

Isaiah has Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, English, and African American origins. In Hebrew, it means "the Lord saves". In Hebrew, it means "salvation of God, the Lord saves". In Biblical Hebrew, it means "Yahweh is salvation".

Is Isaiah a boy or girl name?

Isaiah is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #56. As a girl name, it is ranked #9258. Isaiah is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Isaiah?

Isaiah is pronounced eyez-AY-uh.

How popular is the name Isaiah?

Isaiah is currently ranked #56 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Isaiah?

Common nicknames for Isaiah include Zay, Ike, and Isa.

What are good middle names for Isaiah?

Popular middle name pairings include Isaiah James, Isaiah Michael, Isaiah David, Isaiah Thomas, Isaiah Alexander, Isaiah John, and Isaiah Emmanuel.

What are good sibling names for Isaiah?

Names that pair well with Isaiah as siblings include Elijah, Josiah, Miriam, Hannah, Ezekiel, Naomi, and Ezra.

How many syllables does Isaiah have?

Isaiah has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.

Is Isaiah a common or rare name?

Isaiah is a very popular name, ranked #56 among boy names in the United States.

About the Name Isaiah

Isaiah is a boy name with Hebrew, English, and African American origins . The name means "the Lord saves" in Hebrew .

Is Isaiah a boy or girl name? Isaiah is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #56 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #9,258. Isaiah is more commonly used as a boy name.

Isaiah is currently ranked #56 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Isaiah has 3 syllables and is pronounced eyez-AY-uh, making it distinctive and memorable.

Common nicknames for Isaiah include Zay, Ike, and Isa. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

Alternative spellings of Isaiah include Isaias, Isai . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.